Overview

• A JAMA Pediatrics analysis found nearly 17 million U.S. adolescents and young adults meet FDA criteria for GLP-1 receptor agonist treatment for obesity or type 2 diabetes.
• One in five eligible young adults lack insurance and nearly one-third report no regular healthcare provider, obstructing treatment of cardio-kidney-metabolic conditions.
• Medicaid insures about 40% of eligible adolescents but only a fraction of state programs cover GLP-1 medications for obesity.
• Among eligible young adults, 49% have private insurance while 19.4% remain uninsured, compared with 7.2% of adolescents without coverage.
• Researchers recommend state Medicaid reforms to expand formularies and reach millions of youth as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and prediabetes rates climb.